Ramsey broke the deadlock with a fine first-half header and after substitute Mathieu Flamini added a late second, the Welshman completed victory in stoppage time to take his tally of league goals this season to eight.

The win took Arsene Wenger’s side seven points above Liverpool and Chelsea, both of whom play on Sunday, as well as Everton, who climbed to fourth place by beating Stoke City.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere had scored after 14 seconds against Marseille in mid-week and he almost repeated the trick at the Cardiff City Stadium, curling a 20-yard shot against the crossbar in the second minute.

A remarkable incident then saw Olivier Giroud shun an opportunity to extend Arsenal’s lead. Wrongly believing himself to be offside, the French striker stopped with a clear run on goal, and when he belatedly realised that the assistant referee had kept his flag down, Steven Caulker rushed back to block. Fortunately for Giroud, Ramsey was on hand to spare his blushes (29th minute).

The Welsh midfielder sent a superb header past David Marshall from Mesut Ozil’s cross, and his refusal to celebrate against his former club saw him being applauded.

Flamini then added a second for the visitors’ in the 86th minute, gathering a pass from Ozil and lashing home, before Ramsey continued his astonishing form by claiming an emphatic second goal in stoppage time.

EPL results
Cardiff 0-3 Arsenal
Aston Villa 0-0 Sunderland
Everton 4-0 Stoke City
Norwich 1-0 Crystal Palace
West Ham 3-0 Fulham u00a0